HVAC-Talk site will be slow for the next few days. It's normal site/server maintenance. Thx -Dad

Welcome to HVAC-Talk.com, a non-DIY site and the ultimate Source for HVAC Information & Knowledge Sharing for the industry professional! Here you can join over 150,000 HVAC Professionals & enthusiasts from around the world discussing all things related to HVAC/R. You are currently viewing as a NON-REGISTERED guest which gives you limited access to view discussions

To gain full access to our forums you must register; for a free account. As a registered Guest you will be able to:

Participate in over 40 different forums and search/browse from nearly 3 million posts.

Condensate Pump Mystery (mis posted earlier)

Our system is working fine. Except. It stopped a week ago when the overflow pan filled. It seemed the condensate pump (6 years old) had died. It was replaced. The new pump did not pump. Bench tests showed both pumps are fine. The line out of the condensate pump was flushed, then replaced. The pump works once or twice then "bubbles up" and doesn't work again. For the last week we've had the condensate pump routed into a bucket which we empty every few hours, depending upon the temperature. The condensate pump need only pump a foot or so vertical, the the line runs 25 feet or so across the attic to the side of the house, then out to the ground. The system works well, but hauling those buckets is a pain. What kind of physics is involved I do not know.
Edit/Delete Message

Find out what head the pump is rated for.
Check for kinks in new line.

Yes check this, It usually says like 15' cutoff or higher. Seems strange that it worked for 6 years though. But I have seen people install a 15' cutoff rated pump in a much longer drain, It also has a some to do with how much or it is vertically ran

I have gone on a service call, where I drove my van to the end of the pipe, poked it with a screw driver (mud dawbers) and the water flew out for 5 mins. straight. The property owner couldn't believe it was that simple.

Yes check this, It usually says like 15' cutoff or higher. Seems strange that it worked for 6 years though. But I have seen people install a 15' cutoff rated pump in a much longer drain, It also has a some to do with how much or it is vertically ran

beenthere:
The new pump was removed and the cleaned-up old pump put into the line. It has been working thus far. Examination of the new pump disclosed the bb in the check valve was missing; it's a Flotec pump. Thanks for your comments, one should always check even new equipment.